Department for Transport

Hammersmith Bridge: Repairs and Maintenance

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 9 March (HL6483), when they expect Hammersmith Bridge to re-open.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) owns and is responsible for the maintenance of and repairs to Hammersmith Bridge. LBHF reopened the bridge to pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic on 17 July 2021. It commenced work to stabilise the bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic on a permanent basis in early March 2022. The next stage of the project is to reopen the bridge to motor vehicles. LBHF is currently reviewing delivery options and developing a business case for this stage. Providing a schedule for the full reopening is part of this development process. Whilst the responsibility for maintaining the bridge and making decisions on its repair lies with the LBHF, the Government has taken concrete steps to find a resolution that ensures the permanent reopening of the bridge to all users. A Government-led taskforce, chaired by Baroness Vere, was set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) in September 2020, to work towards the safe reopening of the bridge. As part of the Extraordinary Funding and Finance Agreement announced on 1 June 2021, the Government has committed to directly contributing up to one-third of the total funding for the project, but no more. This is subject to a commitment from Transport for London (TfL) and the LBHF to do the same.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Sanctions: Russia

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to allow contracts with Russian entities to be broken without becoming liable for damages.

Lord Callanan: Contracts remain a commercial matter for businesses. Where businesses seek to sever contracts with Russian entities, we recommend seeking independent legal advice. The Department for International Trade have expanded its Export Support Service (ESS) to act as a single point of enquiry for businesses and traders with questions relating to the situation in Ukraine and Russia. Any business that has question about trading with Ukraine or Russia can ask the export support team by visiting the GOV.UK website, or call our helpline using the number 0300 303 8955.

Offshore Industry

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) legislative controls, and (2) licensing agreements, govern the (a) accountability, (b) liability, (c) market restrictions, and (d) other controls, of oil and gas operators in UK waters.

Lord Callanan: The UK has a robust regulatory system which provides a comprehensive regime for exploration and production activities in the offshore oil and gas sector, which includes provisions to ensure safe operations and protect the environment. The legislation allows the Government to serve legal notices on any party involved in the exploration and production of an offshore oil or gas field, ensuring they remain responsible for decommissioning costs, rather than the UK taxpayer. Offshore operators will require environmental permits from the relevant environment agencies, scrutiny by the relevant health and safety bodies, and Oil and Gas Authority consents for drilling under the provisions of their licence.

Department for Education

UK College of Business and Computing: Graduates

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in graduation rate at the UK College of Business and Computing from 8 per cent in 2016 to 78 per cent in 2017; and what measures of validation were taken by external bodies.

Baroness Barran: It has not been possible to establish the source of these figures on graduation rates for the higher education provider UK College of Business and Computing. Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publish data on projected outcomes, available here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation/table-t5, but projected outcomes for UK College of Business and Computing entrants do not appear for any of the years covered (2015/16 to 2018/19 or 2019/20).

Students: Russia and Ukraine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) Ukrainian, and (2) Russian, students in the UK can continue their studies in (a) schools, and (b) places of higher education; and what steps they will take to help those who want to complete their courses to do so.

Baroness Barran: Alongside our allies, we are united in support for Ukraine. The Department for Education has been working closely with the education sector and across government more widely to ensure that Ukrainian and Russian students are supported during this difficult time. This includes a new visa option for Ukrainian nationals, including students, that will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave or switch to a graduate visa without having to leave the UK. We continue to welcome Ukrainian and Russian pupils and students to UK universities and schools, where we are proud of the long history we have defending values such as freedom of speech and freedom of publication. However, anyone subject to sanctions will have actions taken against them, including if they are in education. We recognise the current uncertainty will mean that many students may experience additional mental health challenges. Protecting student and staff wellbeing is vital and it is important students continue to be able to access the mental health and wellbeing support they need. All schools, including independent schools, have a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as part of the statutory safeguarding guidance, keeping children safe in education. The guidance sets out how schools should protect children from harm and what to do if they have concerns about a child. It includes guidance on bullying, child on child abuse and mental health. It sets out where schools should go to access specialist support for children. We encourage students to stay in touch with their higher education provider’s welfare teams as these services are likely to continue to be an important source of support. Providers are not only experts in their student population but also best placed to identify the needs of their students.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Peers: Computers and Printing Machinery

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how many members of the House of Lords have a (1) laptop, (2) desktop, and (3) printer (a) in their parliamentary office, or (b) at home, paid for out of House of Lords funds.

Lord Touhig: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.Since 2015, the following equipment has been paid for out of Parliamentary funds:501 Members have a laptop365 Members have a desktop186 printers have been provided to Members’ offices65 Members have been provided a printer at home. Members are entitled to an allowance of two devices out of a choice of either a desktop (on estate installation only), a laptop or an iPad. These allowance options are flexible depending on accessibility requirements. Printers issued for onsite use are provided in addition to this and are usually assigned to an office space rather than a specific Member. The 186 printers in Members’ offices includes larger printers in shared offices and smaller printers in offices occupied by one Member.In June 2020 as a temporary measure the Services Committee agreed to reimburse Members buying a printer for home use, for up to the value of £200. This was reviewed in light of changes to COVID guidelines and came to an end in September 2021 except for those members eligible to participate in proceedings virtually. During the time the scheme ran, 65 members claimed back the cost of a printer at home and a total of 99 Members were reimbursed for printer consumables for home printing during this period. PDS did previously provide printers to members for home use, this offer was stopped by the Information Committee in 2015. It is likely however, that very few, if any of these devices are still functioning, as these devices have surpassed their useful lifespan and are no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Ukraine: Refugees

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they are providing to help people fleeing from Ukraine; what discussions they have had with other European countries about the provision of such financial support; and what support those countries have committed for that purpose.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are in regular dialogue with our European partners and stand ready to provide humanitarian assistance as needed. Total UK aid to Ukraine and the region for the current crisis comes to almost £400 million. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance and £100 million to bolster the Ukrainian economy and reduce Ukraine's reliance on Russian gas imports.Our humanitarian support will help partners stand up their response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, and create a lifeline for Ukrainians with access to basic necessities. We have also deployed UK humanitarian experts to support Ukraine's neighbours, who are receiving and supporting the increasing flow of refugees fleeing Ukraine.

Ukraine: Geneva Conventions

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what tactful representations they will make to the government of Ukraine about the need to adhere to the Geneva Conventions; and in particular Article 13, which covers the photography and videoing of captured enemy service personnel.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is in regular contact with the Ukrainian Government at ministerial, military and diplomatic levels. The UK, at all times, supports and promotes the letter and the spirit of the Geneva Conventions, and we would expect any participant in any conflict to adhere to it completely, including Russia and Ukraine

BBC World Service: Russian Language

Lord Grade of Yarmouth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make an immediate one-off grant in aid to the BBC World Service to enable it to increase its Russian services (1) online, and (2) over the air.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The FCDO strongly values the work of the BBC World Service and its independent and impartial broadcasting. FCDO officials are working closely with the BBC to consider how best to support BBC services to the Russian people.

Home Office

Undocumented Migrants

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Williams of Trafford to all peers on 2 March regarding the Nationality and Borders Bill and offshoring, whether any such arrangement with a third country would require a treaty.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Legislation in the Nationality and Borders Bill does not in itself enable overseas asylum processing; we need a deal with a likeminded partner for that. I will not tie the hands of our negotiators by commenting on the content nor form of a deal, this is a matter for the negotiating table.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Oxford-Cambridge Arc

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the plan for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc was not included in their Levelling Up white paper; what is the status of growth plans for the Arc; and whether the Arc plan is being replaced by plans in other areas.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Levelling Up White Paper is the first step in changing the way that Government works with places to deliver for people across the UK. It sets out an ambitious future for devolution across the United Kingdom, including a flexible approach to empowering local areas to deliver on their local ambitions. Our next steps include engaging with local authorities to explore their interest in this approach, including those within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. We continue to recognise the importance of the Arc as a globally renowned area of innovation for life sciences, space and green technologies. In October 2021, we completed a 12 week public consultation gathering views to shape a vision for an Arc Spatial Framework. We are currently considering the consultation responses and will provide more information in due course.

Disadvantaged

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in the country, as determinedby the indices of multiple deprivation.

Lord Greenhalgh: The most recent iteration of the English Indices of Deprivation was published in September 2019 and all resources are available online here - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2019File 1 provides relative ranks and deciles for all small areas or neighbourhoods across England for the combined Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measure. File 10 provides relative ranks for Local Authority districts as at time of publication and the Frequently Asked Questions document provides guidance on how to produce decile rankings as required.The English indices of deprivation (pdf, 2241.3KB)

Leasehold

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to require the sales and promotional material for individual leasehold properties to include (1) copies of the legislation relating to leasehold properties, and (2) any legislative proposals Her Majesty’s Government have published on (a) lease extensions, and (b) freehold rights to buy.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We have already committed to setting a maximum fee and timescale for the provision of leasehold information when a home is being sold. This will require freeholders, or managing agents acting on their behalf, to provide relevant information including details of service charges. We will bring forward these proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows and will publicise changes widely so that leaseholders are aware of the maximum fee they should pay.Furthermore, as set out in the Levelling Up White Paper, the UK Government and the industry will work together to ensure the critical material information buyers of leasehold and freehold properties need to know - like tenure type, lease length and any service charges - are available digitally wherever possible from trusted and authenticated sources, and provided only once.

Cabinet Office

Employment: Disability

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the disability employment gap was discussed in Cabinet in each of the last three years; which Cabinet Committee has oversight of the policy; and what were the (1) dates, and (2) outcomes, of the last time it was discussed in that Committee.

Lord True: There are a number of Cabinet Committees that could take issues related to disability employment. Cabinet Committees are listed on GOV.UK along with their membership and Terms of Reference. This list of Cabinet Committees on GOV.UK is updated regularly. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

UK Relations with EU: Statistics

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, for statistical collaboration between the UK and the EU as set out in the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, with regard to data related to (1) poverty, and (2) living standards.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the noble peer’s Parliamentary Question of 03 March is attached. Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National StatisticianBaroness Lister of BurtersettHouse of LordsLondonSW1A 0PW14 March 2022Dear Lady Lister,As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking about plans for arrangements for statistical cooperation between the UK and EU, as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in regard to data on poverty and living standards (HL6621).The UK Statistics Authority has been engaging with Eurostat on arrangements for statistical cooperation that would fulfil the role set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It is our ambition that a future arrangement on statistical cooperation will cover a range of areas of mutual interest, though further engagement will be needed before the scope of any arrangement can be confirmed. The details of any arrangement will be made available once discussions conclude.Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian DiamondUKSA response (pdf, 105.9KB)

Ministerial Statements: Collective Responsibility

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what processes they have in place to ensure thatministerial statements have support across Government.

Lord True: The principle of collective responsibility applies to all Government Ministers. The Ministerial Code sets out the expectations for ministers with regards to both collective responsibility and making announcements to Parliament.

Public Sector: Procurement

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 22 February (HL6066), when the draft Public Procurement Bill will be published; and when they expect it to be introduced in the House of Lords.

Lord True: The Government will bring forward legislation to reform public procurement when parliamentary time allows. Further details of what will be included in the proposed bill can be found in our Green Paper Consultation Response, 'Transforming Public Procurement: Government response to consultation', published in December 2021.

Treasury

Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ask the EU to ease the administrative and paperwork requirements for lorries carrying medicines and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.

Baroness Penn: The UK is committed to working with partners, including the EU, as well as humanitarian agencies, to ensure a well-coordinated and well-funded response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the region. We have initiated a number of conversations with the EU and its Member States to understand their plans to ease the movement of humanitarian supplies. The EU has been working with Member States on this issue and several are now easing their entry and exit regime to support the humanitarian effort for Ukraine. The UK Government has also introduced a simplified customs process to support the export of aid goods destined for victims of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. More information can be found on the gov.uk website. Unless an organisation or person has a licence, medicines cannot be exported using this simplified process. The UK has committed a £220 million humanitarian aid package for Ukraine to help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating situation, creating a lifeline for Ukrainians to access basic necessities and medical supplies.

Environment Protection: Investment

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byBaroness Penn on 2 March (HL Deb col 812) about cooperating with the government of China on a green taxonomy, what fora are these discussions are being conducted in; how any (1) progress, and (2) agreement, will be reported; and what assessment they have made of the timetable for an outcome from the process.

Baroness Penn: My comments referred to the Government’s membership of the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF). The IPSF is a multilateral forum between policymakers on sustainable finance regulatory measures, particularly focussed on green taxonomies. Members include authorities from 18 different jurisdictions globally, including China and the European Union. The UK became a member in February 2021. In June 2020, the EU and China initiated a Working Group on taxonomies with the objective to undertake a assessment of existing taxonomies for environmentally sustainable investments, including identifying the commonalities and differences in their respective approaches and outcomes. This resulted in the publication of a report on a common ground taxonomy in November 2021.